The Alabama Association of REALTORS® is saddened to learn of the passing of Thomas “Tom” G. Walker Jr. Tom served as Executive Officer of AAR during the 1980s from 1984 to 1989. Our thoughts and prayers remain with his family and friends during this time of loss.

Tom is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Betty; their children, Matt (Candace Herron), Jane (Josh) Herndon, and Jeff; their grandchildren, Wells and Whitt Herndon; his sister, Brenda Cash; and a host of extended family and friends.

A graduate of the University of Montevallo and Mississippi State University, where he earned his master’s in political science, his career included serving as Northport’s City Manager and Clerk and as Executive Officer of AAR. He went on to found Montevallo’s American Village — an educational institution dedicated to inspiring citizenship and leadership in young Americans.

Because of his extraordinary contributions, Tom was appointed Vice Chair of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission and received numerous national awards, including honors from the American Bar Association, the Sons of the American Revolution, and the Daughters of the American Revolution. He was also instrumental in bringing the Alabama National Cemetery to Montevallo and served his alma mater as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Tom helped lead AAR to many successes during his tenure- notably retiring the building debt on the original AAR building in less than five years! In his final address to the AAR  Board of Directors in 1989, Tom shared several guiding principles for the future of AAR—insights that remain just as relevant today:

• We cannot be all things to all people, or we run the risk of dissipating our resources.
• If we are to be successful, we must be focused. 
• As Bob Dylan said, the times are "a' changin'" and we must recognize that new times and new challenges pose a demand for new answers. 
• We are in a marathon, not a quick dash; we are in a relay, not running a sprint. Hence we must pace ourselves differently and look beyond the time frame of a single event, or a single year.

Tom will be remembered for his tireless service to the state of Alabama, his love for our country and deep patriotism, as well as the joy, wisdom, and encouragement he shared with family and friends. He personified servant leadership and will be deeply missed.